The gnosis of Allah Most High

The ultimate aim is to attain the gnosis of Allah Most High in this temporary life and there are 2 kinds of gnosis:

One is the gnosis which the scholars describe.

The second is the gnosis with which the Sufis are distinguished.

The first type of gnosis is related to sight and deduction and the second with unveiling and spiritual visions.  The first kind of gnosis comes under knowledge and is of the category of thinking and the second kind of gnosis is included in the spiritual states (ahwaal)….  The first kind does not annihilate the existence of its Gnostic whereas the second one annihilates the existence of the seeker.

The faith in this condition is just the outward aspect of faith and the good deeds are only the outward aspect of good deeds (not the essence of faith and good deeds).  The reason is that the Self is still seeped in disbelief and is opposing the Lord Almighty.  This faith is the faux faith.  It is not safe from ruination and hazards.

As the second gnosis annihilates the existence of the seeker and gives the result of “faith of the Self,” faith in this state is safe from ruination and hazards.  The essence of truth is revealed in this and the essence of good deeds also appears here.  The truth never ceases.  Its perpetuity is assured. 

The words of following verse of the Holy Quran talk about this faith:

O believers!  Put your faith in Allah Most High and His Prophet….Surah Nisa (4:136)

Imam Ahmad bin Hambal (May Allah be well pleased with him) desired this faith.  In spite of enjoying a lofty status in knowledge and jurisprudence, he would hold the stirrups of the horse of the famous saint Hadhrat Bishr Hafi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and walk in a servile manner.  When people asked the reason for this respect (accorded to Hadhrat Bishr), the Imam said:  Bishr has more gnosis of Allah Most High than me.

Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) also attained this lofty objective in the last 2 years of his life and there is a famous quote of his:  If it were not for those 2 years (of attainment), N’oman would have perished. 

Just see!  How lofty a status in deeds did he already enjoy!  What good deed can be there more than deduction and which other form of worship can reach the status of education and imparting knowledge.  Even then he turned towards attainment (Takmeel).

It should be known that the acceptance of deeds depends entirely on the perfection of faith.  The brilliance of the deeds depends on the perfection of sincerity.  The more perfect the faith is and the more accomplished the sincerity, the more complete will be the brilliance and acceptance of deeds.  The perfection of faith and excellence of sincerity depends is related to gnosis and this gnosis is associated with annihilation.  The more one is firmly established in annihilation, the more perfect will one’s faith be.  This is the reason why the faith of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) is superior to the faith of the (whole) Ummah.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) was an accomplished with regard to annihilation. 

The summary of this lengthy exposition is that it is necessary for every sane person to contemplate over the ultimate objective of life.  Anyone who has attained the aforementioned gnosis deserves our congratulation.  They have fulfilled the aim of creation and have spent their lives with perfection of worship.

Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

And I created the genies and men only to worship Me…  (51:56)

Here gnosis is meant with the word “worship.”  Anybody who hasn’t attained it should seek with all their heart and should go wherever he smells the fragrance of it.  Alas that human beings should not gain what they have to in this temporary life and busy themselves in other useless tasks.  What excuse can such a person give on the Day of Judgment?

[Excerpted from Maktoobaat of Hadhrat Khaja Muhammad Masoom (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)]